tteokbokki delivery
INEVITABLE (KRYBER)irene stands next to the couch, looking at krystal who's watching television.
"are you sure you don't want to come? it'll be our treat."
krystal folded her legs and rested her chin on her knees. "i'm good, unnie. you and seulgi have fun on your own. i'll just eat the pasta you brought for dinner. thanks for that."
irene inhales. not the answer she wants. "you still have two hours to change your mind though. ring me up, if ever. okay?"
krystal nods. "thanks."
with a heavy heart, irene takes a good look at krystal. it's dim in the room, with the flashes from the television serving as the only source of light. yet, irene could see the eyebags on krystal's face, even how the woman's eyes are puffy, and how she looks debilitated.
krystal's been like this for weeks now. as much as the woman claims she's okay, irene's sure that's a huge fat lie. she tried her best to reach out, to help, but krystal's uncooperative.
"i'm here for you. you know that, right?" irene says.
there was no response. krystal's just flipping channels with the remote. at this point, irene knows it's futile to push it.
"you can take your time with this. but if you need to let it out, i'm here to listen." irene turns to the door, ready to give krystal the space she wants.
"is it really love, unnie?"
irene whips her head and sees krystal in the same position, eyes downcast.
"when she said she loves me, is it her feelings or was it influenced by the spirits?"
krystal's voice is so soft like she's whispering words into thin air. yet, irene can feel the hurt in every word.
"falling in love isn't something the spirits can force upon us. it's part of our free will as humans," irene explains as she steps back into the living room to sit on one of the couches. "yes, they can control the circumstances around us, but they can never impose a human being to fall for someone, like in just a snap of a finger."
krystal slowly turns to look at her. "they can't do that?
irene shakes her head no. "that's the tricky part about soulmates that people often misunderstood. the spirits don't program people to fall in love. they match people. of course, they are wise enough to know which human beings we're compatible with and more likely to fall in love with."
krystal nods in silence, looking away.
"she loves you. it's not just some interference by the spirits. it's real. amber's in love with you."
krystal hugs her knees tighter, hiding her face in her knees. "i miss her so much, unnie. i miss her so much i don't know what to do anymore."
this time, irene transfers to sit beside krystal and rubs a palm over the woman's back.
"if she really loves me then why isn't she here now?"
irene could only sigh. "she's coming back. i'm sure of that. maybe she's taking her time. but i'm sure she misses you as much."
krystal stays silent, still hiding her face in her knees.
irene keeps rubbing the younger's back when she hears a buzzer outside.
she stands up. "i think someone's at my door. it might be a delivery. hold on. i'll be right back."
she steps out of krystal's unit, closes the door behind her, finding it weird that no one's at her door.
then she hears footsteps near the elevator area and sees a familiar hooded figure with a black cap.
"amber?" she calls.
she saw how amber's eyes widen. the woman quickly presses the button, wanting to escape.
knowing what's on amber's mind, irene dashes to the woman and grabs her coat.
"hah! gotcha! hey-- what the hell!"
the elevator opens. amber steps inside and quickly closes it.
"no!" irene blocks the doors with her foot and grabs amber by her arm.
"let go, irene... i can't let her see me now..."
"no!" this time, irene grabs amber's hood and twists it around her fist so it would lock in her grip.
"irene-- let go!" amber's getting pulled out of the elevator.
"i can't! krystal's been crying for weeks because of you! i won't let you get away!"
at this, amber finally stops struggling. "s-she's been crying?"
"yeah. do you think she can stay mad at you forever?" irene finally lets go of her grip, pushing amber against the wall. "where have you been, huh?"
"just... hiking." amber raises her hand holding a paper bag. "i was buzzing your door for five minutes to give this. i thought you weren't around."
"what's this?" irene sniffs the bag. "tteokbokki?"
"i was hoping you could give it to krystal."
"why not give it to her yourself then?"
"well..." amber puts her hands in her coat pockets. "i'm still thinking of how to approach her properly." she bites her lower lip. "i know she might be mad at me, so i need to think of a way to lessen her grumpiness."
irene raises an eyebrow. "did it occur to you that maybe she misses you too?"
"it did. but i still want to plan things out."
"and when are you planning to show yourself up?"
"this afternoon maybe." amber shrugs. "or evening."
irene rolls her eyes. "look, amber--"
"unnie? i thought i heard your voice here," krystal says. "are you having problems with the delivery?"
irene flinches while amber freezes on the spot when they hear that familiar bedroom voice. irene turns around and sees the woman already approaching them.
too late. good luck with amber then.
"oh. hey, krystal. yeah. i got my delivery." irene raises the bag. then she steps aside and gestures to the woman hiding behind her. "and guess who's here?"
krystal slowly places a hand over , eyes getting wider as she stares at the hooded figure beside irene.
". i'm dead," irene hears amber whispers.
"now that i got my delivery, i'll head to my room now." irene gleefully jumps away from the scene. "oh, and by the way, seulgi and i will have dinner date later. if you two would want to join, just let me know, okies?"
without waiting for a response from the two, irene skips back into her room, silently wishing amber good luck.
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